Mayor Don Wesely today presented Mayor's Awards of Excellence to Chester
"Chet" McPherson with the Lincoln Area Agency on Aging and Police
Officer Patrick Howell. The monthly award recognizes city employees who
consistently provide exemplary service and work that demonstrates
personal commitment to the city. McPherson won for the month of January
and Howell for the month of February. The awards were presented at the
beginning of today's City Council meeting.

McPherson has been with the Aging Division since August 1986. He was
nominated in the field of productivity by his supervisor and the entire
staff of the Lincoln Information for the Elderly (LIFE) Program.
McPherson is a licensed insurance agent, and his co-workers say he uses
his previous private sector experience to provide advice on Medicare and
insurance to older adults.

"Chet is not selling anything to them so they feel they can trust the
information he provides," the nomination letter reads. "This
information is so often the result of Chet's personal research
frequently completed on his own personal time. Chet always puts the
client first." Because those he has helped often refer others to him,
McPherson has helped many older adults learn about the LIFE Program and
its other services.

Police Officer Howell is with the Southeast Team and was nominated for
the award in the area of productivity by his supervisor, Sergeant Mike
Bassett. Bassett wrote of the extra efforts the Police Department makes
in December to keep drunk and drugged drivers off the roads.

"Officer Howell made 18 DWI arrests for the month and completed his
normal duties, which included approximately 80 calls for service and
their follow-up," Bassett wrote. "Officer Howell is a tireless worker
who is an example to all his fellow officers as one who rises to the
demands of his profession and gives the extra service to the community."

The other categories in which employees can be nominated are safety,
loss prevention and valor. All city employees are eligible for the
Mayor's Award of Excellence except for elected officials and some
managers. Individuals or teams can be nominated by supervisors, peers,
subordinates and the general public.

Nomination forms are available from department heads, employee bulletin
boards or the Personnel Department , which oversees the awards program.
All nominations are reviewed by the Mayor's Award of Excellence
Committee, which includes a representative with each union and a
non-union representative appointed by the Mayor.

Award winners receive a $100 U.S. savings bond, a day off with pay and a
plaque. Monthly winners are eligible to receive the annual award, which
comes with a $500 U.S. savings bond, two days off with pay and a plaque.